Basket-top fastener



J. F. EAST.

BASKET TOP FASTENER.

APPLICATION man ocT. 22, 1914.

0 o o u o o c o .4

JGHN F. EAST, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

BASKET-TOP FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 45, 4946.

Application led ctober 22, 1914. Serial No. 888,092.

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to woodenu receptacles such as baskets and the like, and more especially to the closures thereof; and'the object of the same is to provide a simple, convenient and strong fastenerv for holding the closure in place, together with means for latching the fastener in position so that it may not become accidentally displaced. rlhis object is carried out by the means more fully set forth below, and shown in the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of a basket closed by an open-work or ventilated top, and the top fastened by means of this invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the latch mechanism thrown out of use.

I have shown my invention as applied to an ordinary basket B, although of course this might be a barrel, crate, or any suitable receptacle, but it is referred to herein by the word basket without necessarily limiting me thereto. In Fig. l I have shown this basket as having handles H, as of wire, rising from opposite sides of its mouth. Also ll have shown the basket as closed by a cover or closure C, which is here illustrated as of open-work or ventilated construction, and which fits into the mouth of the basket between its handles, as usual.

No novelty is claimed for the parts thus far described.

Coming now to the details of the present invention, l consider it desirable that the closure, whatever its shape and construction, shall have across its top two battens l and 2, extending parallel with but spaced from each other for some little distance so as to leave a channel 3 between them, the channel being of about the same width as the opening through the handles H, and the extremities of said channel alining with such openings, as seen. rlhe fastening for the closure is a strip 4, preferably of wood and of the same thickness as the battens, its width being such that it slides freely in the channel and its length being such that its ends 5 will pass through or under the handles, as best seen in Fig. l. lt may be that no device will be necessary to hold this fastener in place, especially if the contents of the basket have been borne down upon and to an extent compressed when the closure C was put in place. If the strip is slipped into position through the handles at that time, the expansion of the contents will raise the closure or cover C slightly, and the ends 5 of the strip 4 will bind under the handles l-l. But my preference is to provide a latch for preventing accidental displacement of the strip 4. rllhis latch is shown in Fig. l as composed of a short piece G of strap iron, perhaps a quarter of an inch wide, centrally secured as by a nail or screw 7 to the top of the strip 4 about midway between its edges, and from this point in both directions the body of the strap iron descends slightly so that its ends rest in notches 8 cut in the upper face of the strip 4, while their extremities 9 are upturned beyond the edges of said strip, all as best seen in Fig. 2. With this style of latch, notches 10 are cut in the inner upper corners of the battens l and 2 which extend across the top of the closure C. With this latch applied, the cover C is put in place upon the basket or receptacle, one end 5 of the strip 4 is slipped under one handle and the body of the strip laid in the channel 3 between the battens l and 2, and then the entire strip is moved so that its other end passes under the other handle at which time the ends of the latch will drop into notches l0. Such engagement of the latch will prevent the longitudinal movement of the strip, and the ends of the latter lying under the handles will resist the upward movement of the closure or cover C as long as the strip remains in place. ln order to remove the cover, the thumb and finger nails are inserted in notches 10 and under the up-turned extremities 9 and the ends of the latch are lifted out of the notches 8 and l0, the strip 4 moved to disengage its ends 5 from the handles H, and the cover is free. rlhus it will be seen that no complicated mechanism is necessary and that practically no change is required in the structure of the receptacle or its cover. ll have shown the battens so spaced as to leave vquite a wide channel 3 between them, but it is obvious that this channel could be narrower than the opening through the handles, and so narrow, in fact, that the Ystrip would be hardly more than a stick, and might Veven be of metal.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an open-topped receptacle having upstanding handles at its mouth, a closure therefor having spaced battens across it, a fastening strip removably disposed between said battens Vand with its ends engaging said handles, the battens and strip having registering notches at about their midlength, and a latch of resilient strap iron secured at its center upon said strip and having downturned ends lying in the notches of the strip and adapted to spring into the notches of the battens, the extremities of said ends being 11p-turned for the purpose set forth. p

2. The herein described fastener for a basket cover, the same comprising a strip longer than the width of said cover and adapted at its extremities to pass under the basket-handles, and a strap-metal latch secured at its center across said strip and having downturned ends, the cover having openings into which said ends spring when the fastener is in operative position.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. EAST.

Witnesses:

A. B. CAREY, I-I. O. WHITE.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

